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Scripture for the day: Luke 6:27-31 But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
Thought for the day: Life has a way of dumping on us, doesn’t it? I mean by that; pause to look around you for a few minutes at your own personal history. Do you get the impression sometimes that your life has been one endless challenge after another? Don’t you occasionally feel as if there is no end to the dirt life is throwing at you and, if things don’t change soon, you’ll be buried in it? And what of your faith? Is it carrying you through this endless line of attacks and persecutions, or is it beginning to falter under the weight of all that’s coming your way?
Most of us feel that way from time to time. Life just seems so unfair, so difficult to face, so long and meaningless in light of all the things that seem to be endlessly going wrong. And yet, in the midst of it all, we’re encouraged, even admonished, to “put on a happy face’” “keep a stiff upper lip” (whatever that means!), “hang in there” while trying to remember that things will get better. I once heard a wise man say, “Everything was going wrong in my life. I talked with my friend about and she said, “Cheer up; things could be worse.” So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse.” Ever been there? Of course you have; we all have.
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Now, I want you to remember a few things as you feel the next shovel-full of dirt come crashing onto your back. First, Jesus never said the dirt wouldn’t come – He said it doesn’t have to bury us. Second, Jesus said He’d always be there to help brush the dirt off as it hit. And third, Jesus said that “stepping out of the well of persecution” would bring such happiness that even the memory of the pounding of every shovel-full of dirt would soon be replaced by the joy of once again standing on solid ground.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less
Now go take on your world. - Bill